Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese - st john of kronstadthttp://www.antiochian.org/taxonomy/term/1488/0
en-USOctober 15, 2014 + Health, the Belly, and Other Idolshttp://www.antiochian.org/october-15-2014-health-belly-and-other-idols
<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_george_bp_th_0_2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="224" height="312" /></span><em>by St. John of Kronstadt</em></p>
<p>Health and the belly, these are the two idols--especially with men of the present age, of whom I myself, a great sinner, am one--for which we live, and which we continually serve, even to the neglect of the duties of our Christian calling--for instance, to the neglect of the reading of the Word of God, which is sweeter than honey and honey-comb; to the neglect of prayer, that sweetest converse with God, and of the preaching of the Word of God. To walk a great deal for health, and to incite the appetite, to eat with appetite --such are the objects of the desires and aspirations of many of us. But through our frequent walks, through our fondness for food and drink, we shall find that one thing has been neglected, and another irrevocably missed, whilst others have not even entered into our minds; for can the time after a good dinner or supper be really a good time for any serious work! Even if we would like to occupy ourselves with work, the belly, full of food and drink, draws us away from it, and constrains us to rest, so that we begin to slumber over our work. What sort of work can it be? Indeed, there is nothing left, if it is after dinner, but to lie down and rest, and if it is after supper, after having prayed somehow or other (for a satiated man cannot even pray as he should), to go to bed and sleep--the miserable consequence of an overloaded stomach--until the next morning.</p>
<!--break--><!--break--><p> And in the morning there is another sacrifice to your belly ready in the shape of a dainty breakfast. You get up, pray, of course not with your whole heart--since with our whole heart we can only eat and drink, walk, read novels, go to theaters, dance at evening parties, dress elegantly--and thus you pray, out of habit, carelessly, to save appearances, only as a form, without the essence of the prayer, without lively faith, without power, without any fervour in your petitions, praises, and thanks to the Lord God for His uncountable mercies, and then you hurry again to food and drink. At last, when you have eaten and drunk so much that now, scarcely able to move, you are ready to begin work, if it really is work, and not rather inactivity -such, for instance, as trading with some worldly vanities, accompanied by an abundance of swearing, lying, and cheating. In such or a similar way, with many and many of us, our present life passes away, and our days consume in vanity, [1361] whilst we care little for that which is the most important matter on earth--the salvation of our soul. Thus our life is spent mainly in the worship of two brittle idols--health and the belly--and then dress; so much so that many, by worshipping fashion, sacrifice even their health and food, thus going to the other extreme. Furthermore, people worship money, this great god, the Jupiter of our age; for the sake of this idol many sacrifice their health, spending sleepless nights for its sake, swearing falsely for it, violating the laws of friendship for it, becoming cold to their relatives through it, all with the one purpose of accumulating as much money as they possibly can. There are money-lovers who, if it were possible, would turn everything into money, and would live by it, like Judas Iscariot, who wished to turn into money even the precious ointment with which the pious woman who loved her Lord with her whole soul anointed His feet, and then wiped them with her hair. Christian! it is not for your health, belly, dress, and money that you must care; you must strive after love for God and your neighbour, for these are God's two greatest commandments. "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him."</p>
<p><em>St. John of Kronstadt, from </em>My Life in Christ</p>
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<p><strong>Venerable Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, and Monk of Mt Athos</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/41336"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_euthymius_new.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="137" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion, Tone 8<br /></strong></p>
<p>The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By so doing doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore your spirit, venerable Euthymius, rejoices with the angels.</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion, Tone 2<br /></strong></p>
<p>Crossing dryshod through the storms of life, venerable and divinely wise Euthymius, you mightily drowned the bodiless foe in the streams of your tears; you received the gift of miracles to heal all sufferings. Unceasingly pray for us all.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>appetitearticlegluttonyhealthst john of kronstadtThu, 09 Oct 2014 16:10:49 +0000afrishman41341 at http://www.antiochian.orgJune 18, 2014 + I Myself am a Miracle of God's Goodness, Wisdom, and Omnipotencehttp://www.antiochian.org/june-18-2014-i-myself-am-miracle-gods-goodness-wisdom-and-omnipotence
<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" height="312" width="224" /></span><em>by St. John of Kronstadt<br /></em></p>
<p>You wish to comprehend the incomprehensible; but can you understand how the inward sorrows with which your heart is overwhelmed overtake you, and can you find, except in the Lord, the means to drive them away? Learn at first, with your heart, how to free yourself from sorrows, how to ensure peace in your heart, and then, if necessary, philosophize on the incomprehensible, for "if ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest'' (St. Luke xii. 26)?</p>
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<p>Think oftener: Whose wisdom appears in the construction of your body? Who has ordered the laws of your thoughts, so that until now these laws are followed by all men? Who has engraved in the hearts of all men the law of conscience, so that until now it rewards the good and punishes the evil in all men? The Almighty, All-wise, and most gracious God! Thy hand is constantly upon me, a sinner, and there is no moment when Thy mercy leaves me. Grant me, then, always to kiss, with living faith, Thy gracious hand. Why should I go far to seek for the traces of Thy mercies, of Thy wisdom, and Thy omnipotence? O! how clearly these traces are visible to me! I, I myself am a miracle of God's goodness, wisdom and omnipotence. I myself--on a small scale--am a whole world; my soul is the representative of the invisible world; my body--of the invisible one.</p>
<p><em>Taken from </em>My Life in Christ</p>
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<p><strong>Martyr Leontius at Tripoli in Syria</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/36188"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_leontius_martyr_tripoli.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="258" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion, Tone 3<br /></strong></p>
<p>Girded with divine strength you triumphed in your contest, O Leontius, the Savior's trophy-bearer. You sprang into the contest like a lion, and destroyed the enemy's might. O glorious martyr, entreat Christ our God to grant us his great mercy!</p>
<p><strong>Troparion, Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>Your holy martyr Leontius and his companions, O Lord, through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through their intercessions, save our souls!</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion, Tone 3<br /></strong></p>
<p>You confounded the wicked plans of tyrants and exposed the godless worship of the pagan Greeks. You illumined all mankind with the knowledge of God by your teachings of true piety, divinely-wise martyr. Therefore, Leontius, we lovingly honor your memory.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlest john of kronstadtWed, 04 Jun 2014 18:58:23 +0000afrishman36189 at http://www.antiochian.orgNovember 27, 2013 + Fasting is a Good Teacherhttp://www.antiochian.org/november-27-2013-fasting-good-teacher
<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" height="312" width="224" /></span><em>by St. John of Kronstadt, from </em>My Life in Christ<em><br /></em></p>
<p>Fasting is a good teacher: (1) It soon makes everybody who fasts understand that a man requires very little food and drink, and that in general we are greedy and eat a great deal more than is necessary—that is, than our nature requires. (2) Fasting clearly shows or discloses all the infirmities of our soul, all its weaknesses, deficiencies, sins, and passions; just as when muddy, standing water is beginning to be cleaned it shows what reptiles and what sort of dirt it contains. (3) It shows us all the necessity of turning to God with the whole heart, and of seeking His mercy, help, and salvation. (4) Fasting shows all the craftiness, cunning, and malice of the bodiless spirits, whom we have hitherto unwittingly served, and whose cunning, now that we are enlightened by the light of God's grace, becomes clear, and who now maliciously persecute us for having left their ways.</p>
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<p><strong>Great Martyr James the Persian</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/31639"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_james_persian_0.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="161" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion, Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>You astounded all, long-suffering James, by enduring horrible tortures with great patience. As the evil assembly performed the slaughter, you uttered prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord. Through your sufferings you received your crown, and came to the throne of the heavenly King, Christ God. Entreat Him to save our souls!</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion, Tone 2<br /></strong></p>
<p>You listened to your faithful wife and contemplated the judgment of God, holy James; you despised the threats and commands of the Persians, accepting the cutting of your body as though you were a vine. Therefore you were revealed as a martyr worthy of honor.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlefastingst john of kronstadtWed, 20 Nov 2013 16:55:31 +0000afrishman31640 at http://www.antiochian.orgJuly 10, 2013 + "We Forgive Them that Trespass Against Us"http://www.antiochian.org/july-10-2013-we-forgive-them-trespass-against-us
<!--paging_filter--><p><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="312" /><em>St. John of Kronstadt, from </em>My Life in Christ&nbsp;</p>
<p>"We forgive them that trespass against us." This means not to feel against our neighbour who has been guilty towards us (intentionally, obstinately, or unintentionally) any vexation, enmity, or malice, but to forgive him his fault in all simplicity of heart, vividly representing to ourselves our own infirmities and falling into sin, and maintaining towards our guilty neighbour the same love and the same feelings of kindness which we felt towards him before his fault. What would it be if the Lord were to notice our iniquities as we do the faults of our neighbour? Who could withstand? But as the Lord is long-suffering and merciful, be also long-suffering and merciful (not strictly exacting, but compassionate). "Charity suffereth long, and is kind." [1 Corinthian 13:4] Do not reckon the faults of your neighbour, consider them as though they were not; as nothing! We are one body, and his body is a sinful one. What is more common and easier to us than sins? We breathe them like air. But the Lord, the Head of the body of the Church, is the cleansing of them. Leave everything to the Head, Who worketh all things in all; and hold fast to love alone, for it is the only infallible thing in our life (pure love). Do not serve the Devil by the spirit of enmity, malice, hatred; do not increase evil by evil, and do not spread the kingdom of the enemy in the kingdom of Christ." Overcome evil with good." [Romans 12:21] For you cannot conquer evil with evil, just as you cannot put out fire by fire, but only by water. Malice is always an imagination of the Devil. Love is always God's truth and God's child.</p>
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<p><strong>Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, Founder of Monasticism in Russia</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/30940"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_anthony_kiev_caves.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="276" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion, Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>Having departed from worldly tumults, in leaving the world you followed Christ according to the Gospel. You reached the quiet refuge of the Holy Mount Athos, living there a life equal to the angels. Therefore, with the blessing of the Fathers, you came to the Kievan hills. There having fulfilled a life loving of labors, you illumined your homeland. And having shown a multitude of monastics the pathway leading to the heavenly kingdom, you led them to Christ. Beseech him, O Venerable Anthony, that he may save our souls!</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion, Tone 8<br /></strong></p>
<p>From your youth you gave yourself to God whom you loved above all, O Venerable One; and in love you followed after him with your whole soul. Scorning the passing corruption of the world, you made a cave in the earth; and in it you struggled nobly facing the snares of the invisible enemy, while illumining the ends of the earth like a bright, shining sun. Therefore, with rejoicing you entered into the heavenly chambers. Standing now before the throne of the Master together with the angels, remember us who honor your holy memory, that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, Anthony our Holy Father!</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articleforgivenessst john of kronstadtWed, 03 Jul 2013 16:42:51 +0000afrishman30941 at http://www.antiochian.orgFebruary 6, 2013 + Prayerfulness at the Sight of Naturehttp://www.antiochian.org/content/february-6-2013-prayerfulness-sight-nature
<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="312" /></span><em>by St. John of Kronstadt<br />From </em>My Life in Christ<em><br /></em></p>
<p>When you walk in a forest, garden, or meadow, and see the young shoots of the plants, the fruits on the trees, and the variety of the flowers of the field, learn a lesson from God’s plants--namely, the lesson that every tree each summer unfailingly puts forth at least one shoot of considerable size, and unfailingly grows in height and dimensions. It seems as though every tree endeavors each year to advance by the strength that God has given it; therefore, say to yourself, I, too, must each day, each year, absolutely grow higher and higher morally, better and better, more and more perfect; must advance on the road to the Kingdom of Heaven, or to the Father which is in Heaven, through the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit dwelling and working within me. As the field is adorned by a multitude of flowers, so should the field of my own soul be adorned by all the flowers of virtue; as the trees bring forth flowers and afterwards fruit, so must my soul bring forth the fruits of faith and good works.</p>
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<p><strong>St. Photius the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Pillar of Orthodoxy</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/29783"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_photius_great.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="196" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion - Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>Follower of the Apostles' way And teacher of mankind: Intercede, O Photius, with the Lord of all, To grant peace to the world And to our souls great mercy!</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlenatureprayerst john of kronstadtWed, 30 Jan 2013 16:24:27 +0000afrishman29784 at http://www.antiochian.orgOctober 31, 2012 + Forgiving the Neighbor That Harms Ushttp://www.antiochian.org/content/october-31-2012-forgiving-neighbor-harms-us
<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" height="312" width="224" /></span>We must love our neighbour still more when he sins against God, or against ourselves, because then he is sick, because then he is in spiritual misfortune, in danger; then, especially, we must have compassion upon him, pray for him, and apply to his heart a healing plaster--a word of kindness, instruction, reproval, consolation, forgiveness, love. "Forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." [546] All sins and passions, quarrels and disputes, are truly spiritual diseases; that is how we must look upon them. Or, all passions are a fire of the soul, a great fire, raging inwardly; a fire proceeding from the abyss of hell. It must be extinguished by the water of love, which is strong enough to extinguish every infernal flame of malice and of other passions. But woe and misfortune to us, to our self-love, if we increase this flame by a fresh infernal flame, by our own malice and irritability, and thus make ourselves the assistants of the spirits of evil, ever endeavouring to inflame the souls of men by means of many and various passions. If we do so, we ourselves shall deserve the fire of Gehenna; and if we do not repent, and do not become in future wise unto good and simple unto evil, then we shall be condemned, together with the Devil and his angels, to torments in the lake of fire. Therefore, do not let us be overcome of evil, but let us overcome evil with good. How accursed are we men! How is it that we have not yet learned to consider every sin as a great misfortune for our soul, and not to pity, heartily, sincerely, lovingly, those who fall into such a misfortune. Why do we not flee from it as from poison, as from a serpent? Why do we linger in it? Why have we no pity upon ourselves, too, when we are subjected to any sin? Why do we not weep before the Lord, who created us?</p>
<p>By St. John of Kronstadt, from <em>My Life in Christ</em></p>
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<p><strong>St. John Kochurov</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/29059"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/saint_john_0.teaser-large_feature.png" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="273" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion - Tone 1<br /></strong></p>
<p>You were revealed to all as a true shepherd O Hieromartyr John of Chicago, for you nurtured your people in the Orthodox Faith, guiding them by word and deed on the path of salvation, and defended the Faith even unto the shedding of your blood. Therefore, we, your spiritual children, cry out in thanksgiving: Glory to Him who gave you strength! Glory to Him who granted you the Martyr's crown! Glory to Him who through you grants mercy to all!</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion - Tone 8</strong></p>
<p>As you zealously fulfilled your pastoral service, you brought your soul to God as a well-pleasing sacrifice, O Father John. Entreat Christ God to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlest john of kronstadtWed, 24 Oct 2012 20:37:40 +0000vnieuwsma29060 at http://www.antiochian.orgAugust 8, 2012 + How Our Life is in the Lord, Not in Sensual Thingshttp://www.antiochian.org/content/august-8-2012-how-our-life-lord-not-sensual-things
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" height="312" width="224" /></span><em>by St. John of Kronstadt</em><em><br />from </em>My Life in Christ<em><br /></em></p>
<p>When God looks mercifully upon earth-born creatures through the eyes of nature, through the eyes of bright, healthful weather, everyone feels bright and joyful. When there is a healthful breeze, there is wholesome air in all bodies and souls; but when a cold, damp, strong wind blows, then everyone feels oppressed in soul and body. Many earth-born creatures groan from maladies; many give themselves up to despondency and melancholy. So powerful and irresistible is the influence of nature upon mankind. And it is remarkable that those who are less bound by carnal desires and sweetnesses; who are less given up to gluttony; who are more moderate in eating and drinking, to them nature is more kindly disposed, and does not oppress them--at least, not nearly so much as those who are the slaves of their nature and their flesh. O how clear it is that our life is in the Lord, and not in sensual things; how clear it is that the Lord is in everything "which worketh all in all." [296] </p>
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<p>In the air He is our breath; in food the satisfying of our hunger; in drink the quenching of our thirst; in clothing our raiment; in the dwelling our protection, warmth, and tranquility; in sleep our rest; in pure, instructive, chaste, and edifying conversation our speech; in mutual love, our love. Lord, Master, our Creator and Benefactor, grant that we may always remember Thee at every moment of our life; that by Thee "we live and move and have our being;" [297]that we have life, breath, and everything from Thee. But let us also remember that if in all that has been enumerated we pervert God's laws, He becomes our grievous punishment. He will become our punishment even in the air, in food and drink; He will no longer be the satisfying of our hunger and the quenching of our thirst, but either our aversion from them or a sickness, as happens when, it is said, that food does no good to some person; in clothing or in the dwelling, our weakness and distress of mind; in sleep not rest, but uneasiness and fear; in speech, constraint; in wrongful love, the fiery torments. The sources of punishment usually appear in our sinful inclinations themselves. "Wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished." [298]</p>
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<p><strong>St. Emilian the Confessor of the Icons, Bishop of Cyzicus<br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/28500"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_emilian_confessor_icons.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="231" height="311" /></a></span>Troparion - Tone 3<br /></strong></p>
<p>In confessing the Faith you proclaimed Orthodox doctrine and were unjustly exiled for rebuking the wicked king. Righteous and glorious Emilian, the boast of Cyzicus, entreat Christ God to grant us His great mercy.</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion - Tone 3<br /></strong></p>
<p>The Church for which you suffered glorifies you in hymns, O Emilian; you were a valiant champion of the Trinity, therefore we honor your memory. Deliver your servants from all assaults of the enemy.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlest john of kronstadtThu, 02 Aug 2012 21:45:26 +0000afrishman28501 at http://www.antiochian.orgJune 20, 2012 + On Making Faithful Prayershttp://www.antiochian.org/content/june-20-2012-making-faithful-prayers
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="312" /></span><em><strong>from My Life in Christ</strong></em><br /><em>by St. John of Kronstadt</em><em></em></p>
<p>If you wish to ask of God in prayer any blessing for yourself, then before praying prepare yourself for undoubting and firm faith, and take in good time means against doubt and unbelief. For it will go ill with you if during the prayer itself your heart wavers in its faith and does not stand firm in it; then do not even expect to obtain of the Lord what you have prayed for doubtingly, for in so doing you have offended the Lord, and God does not bestow His gifts upon a reviler. "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive," [17] said the Lord. This means, that if you doubt and do not believe, you shall not receive. "If ye have faith and doubt not," said He also, "ye shall have power to move mountains." [18]</p>
<p>Therefore, if you doubt and do not believe, you shall not have power to do so. "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed," says the Apostle James; "for let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." [19]</p>
<p>The heart that doubts that God can grant what it asks for is punished for this doubt: it is painfully oppressed and contracted by doubt. Do not anger Almighty God even by a shade of doubt--especially you, who have already experienced many and many times, the omnipotence of God. Doubt is a blasphemy against God, an insolent lie of the heart or of the lying spirit that nestles in the heart, against the spirit of truth. Fear it as you would fear a venomous serpent, or no--what I would rather say, is, despise it, do not take the slightest heed of it. Remember that God, during your prayer, is waiting for your affirmative answer to the question which He is inwardly asking you: "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" To which question you must from the depth of your heart reply, "Yea, Lord." [20]</p>
<p>Let the following considerations also help you in your doubt or unbelief: I ask of God, firstly, that which already exists, and nothing merely imaginary not a fanciful good, and everything that exists receives its being from God: because "without Him was not anything made that was made," [21] and therefore, nothing that happens can happen without Him, and everything has either received its being from Him, or happens by His will or His permission, by means of powers and faculties given by Him to His creatures--and in everything that exists or is still happening, God is an all-powerful Master. Besides this, "He calleth those things which be not as though they were." [22]</p>
<p>Therefore, had I even asked for that which does not exist, He could give it to me by creating it. Secondly, I ask of God what is possible, because what is impossible for us is possible for God; and there cannot be any difficulty even in this respect, because God can do for me even that which is impossible in my own opinion. It is our misfortune that our faith is hindered by the short-sightedness of our reason--that spider, that catches the truth in the web of its judgments, its arguments and analogies. Faith embraces and sees suddenly, whilst reason arrives at the truth by circuitous ways; faith is the means of communication between one spirit and another, whilst reason is the means of communication between the spiritually sensual and the spiritually sensual and even simply material: the first is the spirit and the latter the flesh.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara - June 20<br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/28265"><img src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_methodius_patara.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="167" height="240" /></a></span>Troparion of St. Methodius, Tone 1<br /></strong></p>
<p>Your blood cries out to God from the earth like that of Abel, divinely-wise holy hierarch, Methodius. You openly preached the Incarnation of God, putting the heresy of Origen to shame. You were translated to the heavenly bridal chamber: Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion of </strong><strong>St. Methodius</strong><strong>, Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>As a priest of the mysteries of the Holy Trinity, and a preacher of the commandments of God that surpass understanding, you were the confirmation of Orthodox Christians, O Methodius! You denounced the errors of heretics; for the sake of the True Faith you shed your blood as a hieromartyr. Now as you stand before Christ with the angels, pray that we may be saved.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articleprayerst john of kronstadtWed, 13 Jun 2012 00:07:36 +0000afrishman28266 at http://www.antiochian.org